JUBA - The South Sudanese government says it is developing its own oil industry and will start
producing fuel for domestic consumption within the next eight months.

According to Petroleum and Mining Minister, Stephen Dhieu Dau, one of governmentís
priorities is to establish the nationís infrastructure so South Sudan can process the
commodity itself.

Oil production shut down in January after a dispute with neighboring Sudan over oil transit
fees.

South Sudan took with it 75 percent of Sudanís oil when it gained independence from the
rest of the country in 2011 but relies on Sudanese refineries and pipelines to process and
transport its oil to the international market.

Meanwhile, local communities and activists are urging oil companies to protect the
environment in oil-producing areas and have called for reports of pollution to be
investigated. /IPS (END//2012)